Adjustable clothesline prop



May 18 1926. 1,585,177

L. E. WENTWORTH ADJUSTABLE CLOTHESLINE PROP Filed Dec. 28, 1921 Elvwzntoz ,6 Lillian B .Wentwurth 61 Woman,

Patented May 18, 192.6.

U N i t F. I.

LILLIAN E. WENTWO'IRTH, OF ROGKPORT, MAINE.

ADJUSTABLE CLOTIEZESLIEE PROP.

Application filed December 528, 1.921.

readily folded or compacted to occupy a small space when not inuse tofacilitate storill age or transportation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this characterwhich may be extended to the length desired according to the height ofthe clothes line and the tension of said line.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a device of thischaracter wherein a single pole or prop may be used to support one ortwo lines in spaced relation to each other.

It is still a further object of the invention to provide a prop of thischaracter including a single main or base support and a plurality ofupper or clothes line supports, the clothes line supports being movablein unison and upon the base or main support, means being provided forholding the upper ends of the clothes line supports in spaced relationto each other.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in theimprovedconstruction and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter moreparticularly described, fully claimed and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which:-

Figure 1 is a view in elevation of an adjustable clothes line propconstructed in accordance With an embodiment of the i11- vention;

Figure 2 folded;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the structure shown in Figure 1; and

Figure 4 is a perspective view of one of the clothes line engagingmembers.

Referring to the drawings, 5 designates a main standard or support whichmay be constructed of any desired material, the extrcn'iity of the end 6of said support being provided with a rubber tip or ferrule 7 to preventslipping of the device when in use. The main or base support 5 may bemade in any size desired. The upper end 8 of the main or base support 5is provided with a collar or guide member 9, said member being securedto the support and projecting beyond one face thereof. In connectionwith the base support, an extension support 10 and auxiliary support 11are provided, the'extension support 10 having a collar or is anelevation of the device Serial No. 525,450.

guide 19 secured to its end 13, said guide being adapted to receive themain or base standard 5, while the guide or collar 9 of the mainstandard is intended to receive the portion of the extension support 10above the collar or guide 12. In this way, the main support 5 and theextension support 10 are slidable one upon the other and are preventedfrom disengagement by means of said collars or guides. These 001* larsperform another function, namely, that of stops to limit the adjustingmovement of the prop or pole so as to prevent accidental disengagementof the clothes line extension support 10 from the main support 5. Theupperend 1 1 of the support 10 is provided with a clothes line engagingmember 15 consisting of a strip of material having its ends engaged withthe end 14 of the support and its intermediate portion recessed toprovide a socket for the clothes line the purpose being to preventslipping of the prop on the clothes line and to also preventdisengagement of the prop from the line. Projecting from one side of theend portion 1 1 of the extension support 10 is a lug 16, whileprojccting below the lug 16 is a second lug 17 the purpose of which willbe hereinafter described- In connection with the extension support 10.,an auxiliary support 11 is used, as above stated, the auxiliary support11 having its end portion 18 beveled and hinged to the end portion 13 ofthe extension support 10 above the collar 12 of said'support. Theauxiliary support 11 is intended to extend outwardly so that the upperend portion 19 is disposed in spaced relation to the end portion lt ofthe extension support 10. The extremity of the end portion 19 isprovided with a clothes line engaging member 20, similar in constructionto the clothes line engaging member 16. Disposed below the extremity ofthe end portion 19 is a hook 21, which when the device is folded isintended to engage the lug 16 of the extension support 10, while pivotedto the side of the aruriliary support 11, below the hook 21, is a brace22, the outer or free end of the brace having a hook 28 adapted toengage the lug 17 of the extension support 10, whereby the end portions1& and 19 of the extension support 10-and auxiliary support 11 are heldin spaced relation to each other. Assuming the clothes prop being in itsfolded position and it is desired to use the same, it is only necessaryto extend the extension support 10 longitudinally of the base or mainsupport the distance desired. It is of course obvious that set screws 9and 12 are provided for the collars or guides 9 and 12 respectively tohold the extension sup port in the desired adjusted position so thatdanger of the extension support 10 accidentally slipping is prevented.The hook 21 is then disengaged from the lug 16 so as to permit theauxiliary support 11 to swing outwardly, whereupon the brace is extendedtoward the extension support 10 and engaged with the lug 17 to hold theauxiliary support 11 in its extended position. The prop or pole may thenbe disposed beneath the line and the clothes line engaged one with eachof the members and 520 and the base member positioned accordinglybeneath the line.

From the foregoing it will be readily seen that this invention providesa novel form of clothes line pole or prop possessing a number ofadvantages which. facilitate the work of the person using the clothesline. Among these advantages is the fact that the pole may be adjustedany length desired and that one pole may be used for two lines. in addition to this, there is no danger of the wind accidentally disengagingthe pole from the line, in view of the rubber tip 7 and the fact thatthe lines are disposed within the members 15 and 20. All of thesefeatures are possessed by a device that is simple in construction andcompact in form.

What is claimed is 1. A portable clothes line prop comprising, incombination, a main support, an extension support slidably engagedtherewith, means carried by said supports for holding the same againstrelative movement, an auxiliary support hingedly connected to the innerend portion of the extension support and having a beveled endcontormingly engaging against the extension support when the auxiliarysupport is swung outwardly, abrace pivotally connected with the outerend portion of the auxiliary support, the outer end portion of theextension support having an outstanding lug, said brace having a hoot:engageable with the lug to hold the auxiliary support in its outwardposition, the outer extremities of both the extension support and theauxiliary support being provided with line engaging means.

2. A portable clothes line prop comprising, in combination, a mainsupport, an em tension support slidably engaged therewith, means carriedby said supports for holding the same against relative movement, anauxiliary support hingedly connected to the inner end portion of theextension support and having a beveled end con formingly engagingagainst the extension support when the auxiliary support is swung(nitwardly, coacting means carried b y the outer end portions of theauxiliary support and the extension support for holding the auxiliarysupport in its outwardly disposed position, and line engaging meanscarried by the outer tremities of both the extension support and theauxiliary support.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aliix my signature.

LILLIAN E. VVENTWORTIL

